Legends of the Soaring Phoenix
Book One
M.L. Guida
Genre: Historical paranormal romance
Publisher: Buffalo Mountain Press
Date of Publication: June 30, 2013
ISBN: 978-1490592992 (print)
ASIN: BOODQ3BOLC
Number of pages: 326
Cover Artist: Kim Killion, Hot Damn Designs
Book Description:
Like a dark angel, Captain Kane O'Brien rescues Hannah Knight and her father from drowning after vampire pirates murder their crew and sink their ship. Struggling to control and hide her telekinetic powers, Hannah discovers the honorable and bold captain possesses his own secrets.
Every full moon, Kane turns into a vampire. Finding out Hannah not to be the cabin boy she resembles, but a beautiful, luscious woman, tempts all his appetites. Desperate to be free of his curse, Kane considers handing Hannah over to a demon. But after Hannah uses her power to save his ship from his immortal enemy, Kane can no longer deny his attraction and vows to protect Hannah with his life.
To find true love, they must combine their powers to defeat evil vampires, thwart Hannah's misogynist fiancé and escape a crafty demon.
Excerpt:
Lightning crashed outside. Hannah trembled and her fingers clutched someone’s wet shirt, but ’twasn’t hers. Rain pelted against a window or was it against the walls. The beating of a heart matched the rain. Was the heartbeat hers or someone else’s? Her brain refused to unravel the situation.
“Easy lass.” She liked the roll of the male voice rich with an Irish timbre and snuggled deeper into a wet chest.
He laid her gently down on a soft mattress. “You foolish lass,” he whispered, his spicy breath washing over her, as he brushed her hair out of her face.
The captain? Kane, yes that’s right. He had picked her up. His face came in clearer. His wet hair dripped down onto his soaked shirt. His damp eyelashes outlined his emerald eyes, the same eyes studying her with concern. Why was he concerned? She wanted to say something, but couldn’t form the words and a moan escaped her.
“Blimey,” he uttered.
“Have I done something wrong?”
His handsome face turned grim. She blinked, struggled to rouse herself, and shook her head, but the dull ache refused to allow her to focus on anything but Kane’s stormy eyes.
His soft fingers, brushing hair away from her eyes, sent shivers down her. “What were you doing out there? One angry wave could have carried you out to sea where only Poseidon himself could find you.”
Kane's words were more like an endearment than a scolding. Pain gripped her and her jumbled thoughts and blurry vision played havoc with her senses.
’Twas a sin, but she couldn’t tear her eyes away from his tempting lines. His mouth was angular, firm. What would it feel like to kiss him? She had never been kissed. How strange if a pirate was the first man to kiss her. Why was she thinking about kissing?
Inappropriate. Completely inappropriate.
“You’re wet,” he murmured. He wrapped his arm, around her, pulling her to a sitting position, steadying her on the bed. She put her hand on her forehead, her other hand resting against his chest. His white shirt was so creamy against his tanned skin that she leaned forward, stuck out her tongue, and licked him.
He sucked in his breath. “What are you doing lass?” His accent heavy and strained.
“I wanted to see if you tasted like cream.”
“Jaaysus, do I?”
“No, you taste like wet pirate.”
He pushed her back. Nimble fingers undid her shirt. “What are you doing?”
“You’re shivering,” he murmured. “We have to get you in dry clothing.” He gently slipped her arms out of the sleeves.
Damp air gripped her and her teeth chattered. Cold sweat broke out around her. How could she be cold when sweat ran down her body as if she were out on deck in the hot sun?
She opened her eyes or at least one did. Her right eye throbbed and remained shut. Why couldn’t she open it? She grabbed his hand. “No.” He shook off her limp hand.
“Hmmm, you’re wet, too.”
The mattress was surprisingly soft against her back and he was so handsome. Her naughty arms longed to reach up around his neck and pull him down on top of her where she could indulge in exploring his sinful lips. A shocked giggle escaped her mouth.
He scowled. “Are you laughing at me?”
She shook her head, suppressing a grin. “Not at all.”
His tanned, leaned fingers went to the buttons at her untied the laces of his tunic she wore.
She froze. “What are you doing?”
“Don't worry, lassie, you're treasures are safe from me.”
Her mind refused to answer. Kane jerked off her boots and undid her breeches. Was he going to rape her?
She tried to scream but her words caught in her throat. Mother of God, she was naked.
She swayed on the bed and tried to summon her anger or her power, but all she could feel was the splitting pain in her head. Closing her eyes, she whispered, “I can’t think. Pain keeps clouding my thoughts.”
Kane ran gentle exploring fingers through her hair and she sighed.
His soft touch dulled the pain and she leaned into his hand. “That feels so good.”
His finger ran over the back of her skull and a sharp pain stabbed her head. She winced. “Ow.”
“You’ve got a nasty bump on the back of your head, lass.” He parted her hair, sending chills through her. “’Tis not bleeding. A good sign, but your thunderin’ head won’t thank you in the morning.”
“I like your fingers playing with my hair.”
His fingers slid across her head and glided through her damp strands. “You do?”
“Your hands are gentle. Soft.”
“Soft?”
She clasped his hand, caressing it with her thumb. The roughness spoke of his days in the sun, but he wasn’t always rough. She brought his hand to her cheek, nestling against him. “Maybe not soft, but you’re gentle with them. I like the feel of your hands on my skin.”
“Lassie,” he said. “You’re testing my limits.”
About the Author:
M.L. Guida lives in Colorado near the Rocky Mountains. She loves to take her cocker spaniel, Sadie, for walks on the trails behind her house. The preternatural has always interested M.L. and even as young girl, she'd read Alfred Hitchcock's The Three Young Investigators. Her favorite book in his series was the Mystery of the Green Ghost. It was a big hit in the third grade.
Today, she continues to love the paranormal and one of her favorite shows is Supernatural. Yes, she's a Sam and Dean Winchester fan. Her favorite monster is a vampire. Bram Stoker and Ann Rice got her hooked. Who wouldn't love a sexy man biting you on the neck?
M.L. Guida just finished obtaining her Master of Arts in Creative Writing and now currently, has two masters. The other is a Master of Social Work.
She currently is writing for Passion in Print with her Angels of Death series and has a contract with Lyrical Press and will be releasing a new paranormal novella in March 2014. She is currently working on her new Legends of the Soaring Phoenix and plans to release the first novel in the summer of 2013.
She is a member of Colorado Romance Writers and Romance Writers of America.
Interview:
First, tell us about yourself – where you live, your family, and those sorts of details.
1. I live in beautiful Colorado and love the mountains. My favorite mountain town is Frisco, Colorado. My family has a cabin up there and there's nothing like waking up to smelling pine or the rain pelting on the roof. I have a Cocker Spaniel named Sadie and she's my little writing buddy.
How long have you been writing?
2. I have been writing since I was a kid, but didn't start seriously writing until about five years ago. I've always been interested in the supernatural and am drawn to writing paranormal romance. Just can't get enough of vampires, demons or werewolves.
Do you have a favorite place to write?
3. I hate to admit this but I like to write in front of the television, watching anything paranormal. Paranormal shows motivate me and help me get into the mood to write the supernatural.
Why did you decide to write A Pirate’s Curse?
4. I decided to write A Pirate's Curse because I was having some difficulties at my previous job. I needed a distraction so I wrote about vampires and pirates. I wanted to create a vampire world that veers away from the traditional bite on the neck and people change into a vampires. In my world, my characters only change into a vampire during a full moon. Pirates have always intrigued me from Captain Blood to Captain Jack Sparrow. They were the rock stars of old and I love rock stars so A Pirate's Curse was born.
Who is your favorite character in your book and why?
5. My favorite character is Zuto. He doesn't have a big part in this book, but he'll be in every book. He definitely wants his freedom, but doesn't always make the right decisions to get it. Being the God of the Underworld's slave is not fun. He wants out. Now.
How about your least favorite character? What makes them less appealing to you?
6. My least favorite character is Captain Justin Knight, but he is definitely fun to write. He's a walking contradiction and a great character for the others to push against.
Do you proofread/edit your own books or do you get someone to do that for you?
7. I do proof read my books, but that's just the first run through. I have a critique partner who edits with a red pen. After her, I hired a professional editor and then I had one more run with an OOPS editor who looked for any last minute problems.
What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
8. When I'm not writing, I like to take Sadie for walks and go up to the cabin. I love to travel. My favorite places have been Key West, London and Rome. In the next few weeks, I'll be going to Sante Fe to see the Opera and eat all that good New Mexican food.
Do you read much and if so who are your favorite authors?
9. I do love to read. Right now, I've been stuck on reading writing books and have read several this summer. I'm currently reading Kristen Lamb's Rise of the Machine. When I'm not reading writing books, I'm still in the process of reading Sherrilyn Kenyon's Belador series and also Elaine Levine's new Red Team series.
What question do you wish that someone would ask about your book, but nobody has? Write it out here, then answer it.
10. What was the hardest part about writing A Pirate's Curse?
I had a difficult time writing about Hannah. My first attempts she was a weak heroine, but now, she has a character arc and she is a much stronger character. I'd love to hear what you think of her.
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